New Zealand fashion and lifestyle blog

Wellington goes Shwopping!

The 6th Big Shwop was unleashed in Wellington on Sunday at Wellington’s St James Theatre, and there were some remarkable threads up on offer to be shwopped across the fashion range from Zambesi and Madame Hawke…

The 6th Big Shwop was unleashed in Wellington on Sunday at Wellington’s St James Theatre, and there were some remarkable threads up on offer to be shwopped. Thread spied treasures across the fashion range from Zambesi and Madame Hawke, to old-fashioned clasp vintage handbags.

What is the Big Shwop all about?

"The idea is a simple one – you bring along up to twenty pieces from your wardrobe that are barely worn quality clothes and exchange them for vouchers.. When the shwop begins, you can ‘cash in’ your vouchers for any of the other lovely threads on offer. Guilt free shopping straight ahead!" says organiser Inga Boyd of The Big Shwop.

Shwoppers drank Momo (Marlborough) wine and shwopped their clothes to the sounds of husband and wife DJ duo Misteek and Tigga.

Some of NZ’s most well known companies sponsored the event with generous samples given to shwoppers after they had found the items they wanted. Sponsors included Ecostore, Trilogy, Momo (Marlborough) wines and Kowtow.

The event is the fifth to be held in the capital and the sixth overall. Organisers have taken this event to the next level with a well-excuted start and process. Racks of clothes were sorted into well-spaced blocks and lovely fashion assistants were on hand to help out. There was plenty of space for changing and the atmosphere was upbeat but calm; none of the dramatics evident at overseas department store sales.

Event Co-Directors Inga, Sarah and Chrissy were dressed by Kowtow in new season collection dresses. Kowtow is 100% fairtrade and uses lovely organic fabrics.

Inga Boyd said to watch this space for the seventh Shwop to be help in Auckland in October 2010.

This year there was the addition of the men’s shwop – the He-Shwop. Eduardo showed us some great cowboy boots that were up for shwopping.

Chantelle, one of our favourite shwoppers, remarked that she came has come each year and this year it was very much more relaxed. She sported a 50’s style dress that she had found as part of her shwopping.

Below: Shwoppers show off their haul.

For more information visit www.thebigshwop.co.nz

By Cyndi Greep July 2010
Photos by Ange Lee


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